Process of making emulsified food products



Feb. 20, 1945. E;` E; |NDSEY 2,369,744

PROCESS OF MAKING EMULSIFIED FOOD PRODUCTS Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 mmm!! G6 73' 736/60 i /Na/NZo/e j (.19 ,QA/57' /NDSEV 6? -S S e e e 56 2Q?, l. E, E. LINDSEY 2,369,744

PROCESS OF VAKNG EMULSIFIED FOOD PRODUCTS I Original Filed Jan. 2, 1 940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T To @N5 Ks.

Patented Feb. 20, 1945 PROCESS OF MAKING EMULSIFIED FOOD PRODUCTS Ernest E. Lindsey, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to A. T. Case Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Original application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 313,194. Divided and this application January 31, 1942, Serial No. 429,057

Claims.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 313,194, filed January 2, 1940, for Mixing dispersing, and emulsifying machine, now Patent No. 2,277,120.

This invention relates to a process for making emulsions and particularly to a process for making emulsions known as mayonnaise dressing and salad dressings.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved process in the art of emulsication particularly adapted for the production of mayonnaise and salad dressings.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the followwing part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a mayonnaise making machine capable of being operated to carry out the process embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the machine taken along the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the multiple reservoir taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the discharge head of the machine.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are plan views respectively of the three apertured plates of the discharge head. Fig. 9 is a Vertical sectional View showing the internal constructionof the pump of the machine.

The frame, generally designated by the numeral II, is shown in its preferred form of a right rectangular parallelopiped constructed of lengths of angle irons suitably secured in their proper assembled relationship by Welding or any other desired means. comprises rectangularly arranged front and rear angle iron lenghts I2 and end angle iron lengths I3. At each corner of the base is placed an upright angle iron length I4. which lengths carry at their upper ends the top frame comprising front and rear angle iron lengths I5 and end angle iron lengths I6. Additional uprights I1 and diagonal braces I8 serve to give strength and rigidity to the frame.

Removable panels I9, 20, and 2| are preferably provided and bolted to the front and rear sides of the frame and to one end thereof shown at the right of Figl 1, respectively. Upon the top angle iron lengths I5 and I6 of the frame is secured a rectangular plate 22, the support of which may be strengthened by horizontal cross bars The base of this frame (not shown) connecting the upper ends ofthe uprlghts I1.

A mixing tank 23 has an upper cylindrical portion 24 open at both ends and a lower conical portion-25 arranged with its larger end registering with and secured to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24 and with its smaller end disposed at the bottom of the tank 23 and provided with a small aperture 26.

An annular flange 21 formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24 of the tank 23 rests upon the rim of a circular opening 28 in the plate 22, thereby supporting the tank 23 in position upon the framework of the machine. Two scraper blades 29, each having a vertical section 30 and an inclined section 3| to conform to the shape of the interior of the mixing tank 23, are held in diametrically opposite positions relative to each other by framing rings 32. The lower ends of the sections 3| are secured to a spider 33 having a bearing pin 34 which is journaled in a bearing 35 carried by a stationary spider 36 sef cured within the conical portion 25 of the mining tank 23 near the aperture 26.

A rotary pump 31 is mounted, with its inlet tting 38 directly below the aperture 26, on horizontal cross bars 39 carried by the angle irons I 2. The aperture 26 is connected with the inlet fitting 38 by a short pipe section 40. The pump is driven by a motor 31a suitably mounted on the frame II. Y

Material in the mixing tank settles by gravity, moving downwardly in the conical portion 25 of the tank, through the openings in the spiders 33 and 36, and through the aperture 26 and pipe section 40 to the pump 3'I,-by which it is propelled through an outlet fitting 4I, a horizontal and the terminal discharge head 46, from which the material issues under the pressure generated by the pump and falls to the surface 41 of the material in the upper cylindrical portion 24 of the tank. From time to'time as the material is being thus circulated, the scraper blades 29 may be whirled within the tank by means of handles 30a to remove material adhering to the sides of the tank and to keep in circulation material adjacent these sides.

The tank, pipe section 40, pump 31, pipe sections 42 to 45, and discharge head 46 constitute a' circulating system, and we shall now consider and describesome of the details of this system.

The pump 31 serves both to apply pressure to the circulating liquid or semi-liquid materials for the mixing of which the machine may be used, and also by reason of the character of its action to mix the materials into a homogeneous mass and to subdivide the particles of the material. It is apparent that any kind of centrifugal or rotary pump having a rotor and a stator will increase the homogeneity of a mix. To accomplish the subdivision of the particles of the material which constitutes the dispersed phase of an emulsion. or to properly subdivide the particles of material which constitutes the emulsifying agent of an emulsion,Y if the subdividing agency be a centrifugal or rotary pump, it is desirable that the clearance between the rotor parts and the stator parts of the pump be but a few thousandths of an inch, and under some conditions as small as one thousandth of an inch. The forward advancing edges of the rotor parts, as they revolve rapidly past the stator, subject to a shearing and subdividing action those particles of the material which are not impelled forward to the pump discharge outlet, but which, due to the slip of the pump, pass into the rotor and stator.

While any pump having a rotor and stator will to a varying degree subdivide particles of a material passing through it, I prefer to use a pump of the type disclosed in Fig. 9 of the drawings because of the high degree and rapidity of the shearing action of a pump of this design. The pump has two rotors, one the internally toothed ring gear 48 and the other the spur gear 49 mounted eccentrically withV respect to the gear 48A and meshing therewith. The pump stator also has two parts, one the cylindrical shell 50 concentric with the gear 48 and the other the crescent i occupying the space between the teeth of the two gear wheels. The several clearance spaces between the two rotors and the two stators are not more than one or two thousandths of an inch. The large number of moving surfaces on the rotors which are arranged at a substantial angle to the several stationary surfaces on the stators move rapidly past these stationary surfaces when the pump is in operation. The small clearance and large number of passages of rotor surfaces past stator surfaces foreach revolution of the pump are factors causing a rapid and effective subdivision of the particles of the material being treated, and also a very thorough and uniform dispersion of the particles of one component material throughout particles of the other component materials.

The pipe section 42 is connected with the pipe section 43 by an elbow 52. At the upper end of the pipe section 43` and connecting it both with the pipe section 44 is a three-way valve fitting 54 by means of which material flowing upward in the pipe section 43 may be either directed into the pipe section 44 for discharge into the tank 23, or directed into the discharge pipe 53 upon the completion of the mixing and preparation of a batch of the dressing. The pipe section 44 is connected to the pipe section 45 by an elbow 55.

The discharge head 46 and the lower end of the pipe section 45 upon which the discharge head is mounted are disposed centrally within the uppor portion of the tank 23. The discharge head comprises aA cover plate 56, a housing 51, a rigid spheroidal bottom wall or bowl 58 having a smooth inner surface, and at least one and preferably two or more rigid, smooth surfaced, aperclearance space between the and with a discharge pipe 53 1 Plate number Plate diameter .Y nches. 3. 4. 4. 25 Orifice diameter.. do 1875 170 .0938 Number oi' orifice. 60 60 300 Total area of plate quare inches. 1l4 05 l2. 58 14.720 Single orifice area... 0276 .0227 l. 0060 Total orifice area do 1. 658 1.36 2.01 Net solid area do "13.39 ll. 22 12.13 -Diam. solid centers 7l, 72, 73 .inches. l. 25 1. 25 1. 3l' Area of solid centers s'quare inches 1.23 l. 23 1.35 Net solid ring area .do 8.16 9. 99 10.78 Single orifice perimeter.. inches v 589 534 295 Total orifice perimeter do 35. 3 32. 0 88. 4

ders 65, 66, and 61 on tured plates 59. 60, and 6I. The cover plate 56 is secured to the lower end oi' the pipe 45 in any suitable manner, being shown in the drawings as being provided with a threaded connection 63 for that purpose. The housing 51 is removably secured to the cover plate 56, preferably by a threaded connection such as shown at 64. Handies 62 afford a convenient means for manually turning the housing 51 for engagement or disengagement with the cover plate 55. The housing 51 is formed with a series of stepped shoulits inner cylindrical wall providing annular horizontal supporting surfaces upon which loosely restl the plates 59, 60, and 6I respectively. While one or two or all three of these plates may be omitted, I prefer to provide three plates as shown in the drawings. The lower end of the housing 51 carries the spheroidal bottom wall or bowl 58 formed of relatively thin metal. It may be secured to the housing 51 in any suitable manner, being shown in the drawings as provided with an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper end seated between the lower shoulder 61 and the lower plate 6I and welded to the housing 51. The plates 59, 60, and 6|, since they rest loosely upon the supporting shoulders 65, 66, and 61, may be readily removed from the discharge head by unscrewing the housing from the cover plate 58 and inverting the housing, from which the plates will then fall by gravity.

The plates 59, 60, and 6I are apertured to provide orifices 68, 55, and 10, as shown in Figs. 6, 1, and 8. The central portions 1 I, 12, and 13 of the three plates respectively are preferably solid and devoid of orifices. 'I'he diameter of the central portion 1I is substantially the same as that of the pipe section 45.

The size and distribution of the orifices of the several plates may be varied for usewith different materials and for manufacturing different products. The plates shown in Figs. 6, 1, and 8 respectively are shown with apertures of a representative size and representative distribution. A table descriptive of the three plates shown lin Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and of their orices, and setting forth their dimensional characteristics is herewith given, the figures being taken from a sample and representative set of plates actually used in a production machine for practising this invention.

The central solid plate portion 'Il receives the stream of oncoming material from the pipe section 45 and spreads it out in fan-like fashion in every direction radially over the upper surface of the plate 59 and transversely across the upper ends of the orifices 68. As the material crosses any one of these orifices, some of it enters the orice and passes into a chamber 14 between the plates 59 and 60, most of the material, however, moving on and radially outwardly over the plate. As the horizontal, outwardly moving streams of material are thusv divided by their impact against the outer arcs of the upper edges of the orices 63, particles of the component material are split and subdivided by the shearing action of the sharp edges of the orifices. It will be observed ,that the radially outward movement of the material over the upper face of the plate 59 results in part from the fact that the plate 59 and the disk-like chamber above it are of substantially greater diameter thanthat of the pipe section immediately4 above; the plate 59.

By an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7 and an examination of the above data table, it will be seen that the total apertured area of the plate is substantially less than the total apertured area of the plate 59. This difference is suiiciently great that even though it may be counteracted in part by other characteristics of vthe aperture pattern of the two plates, the flow resistance offered by the plate 60 is greater than that offered by the plate 59. This diierence in flow resistance between the two plates causes the plate 60 to deect upwardly a part of the material received upon its uper surface in eddy or vortex currents which move across the under face of the plate 59, where the particles are subjected to a further subdividing action against the sharp perimetral edges of the lower ends of the apertures 68. The third plate may be designed to offer less iiow resistance than the second plate, which will give to the jets of material passing through the orifices 69 of the second plate a greater velocity thanlotherwise. These jets strike the upper face of the third plate 6l with great force and are spread out across the top surface of the plate 6|. where .they are again subjected to the shearing and subdividing action of the perforations 10. Fig. 7 shows the plate Si designed in this fashion. and the statistics relating to plates 60 and 6| in the above data table show that the flow resistance of the plate 6| is substantially less than that of plate 60.

Figs. 6, '1, and 8 and the data table illustrate one effective design for the plates of the discharge head. that the arrangement and size of the apertures inthe several plates respectively may be varied to suit conditions and to accomplish results of another kind Iwhen such'results maybe desired. Transverse currents, eddy currents, and other forms of turbulence within thehead promote a subdivision of the particles of the material and dispersion of the material in a uniform, thor ough mannerto produce a mix having a high degree of homogeneity.

Thespheroida'l bottom wall or bowl 58 has a plurality of orifices 16 distributed in an annular zonesurrounding a central portion 11. of the bowl which is devoid of apertures. These orices are designed as to diameter, as to their location relative to each other, as to their distribution over the bowl, and as to their angle of discharge, so that a given material at a given pressure within the bowl will issue from the apertures or orifices 16 in jets having trajectories and rates of flow adapted to cause a deposit of the material at a quantitatively even rate over the top surface 41 of the material in the tank. Under some conditions this result is furthered by designing the bowl to throw some of the outermost jets against the side walls of the tank at levels above the surface 41.

It is very desirable in a mixing, dispersing, or

It will be understood of course, however,

emulsifying machine in which the material during a multiple-cycle circulatory operation, such as is characteristic of the machine herein described, is subjected to a series of physical and chemical actions, that all parts of the stream, that is, both the central and peripheral portions of the stream,

travel at a uniform rate of speed; or, where this uniformity of speed is not entirely attainable, that the central and peripheral portions of the stream be thoroughly mixed and homogenized at several points of the circulatory system. It will be observed that in the machine hereinabove described the various ingredients of the nal product are subjected to a subdividing and mixing action in the pump 31. During the travel of the material through the pipe sections 42, 43, 44, and 45, the material moves more rapidly in the center of the column of material within the pipe than it does in the outer portion of the stream adjacent and in contact with the pipe walls. Chemical actions.

such, for instance, as the coagulation of the albuminous portions of the egg material of a mayonnaise dressingwhich is to be manufactured in the machine,l proceed to a more complete stage in the outer portions of the column of material within the pipe sections 42 to 45 than they do in the more central portions or the stream. As a result, the material, rwhen it arrives at the discharge head 46, is not of a chemically uniform character. The same holds true with regard to physical changes, such as that of mixing of the particles of a dispersed phase within the continuous phase. The discharge head 46, however, thoroughly homogenizes the stream of material passing through it so that large and small particles of the various components of the'mix, particles which have reached more and less advanced stages of coagulation, and particles which are more or less completely mixed, are thoroughly and `homogeneously distributed and dispersed throughout the mass of the material irrespective of the degree to which these various physical, mechanical, and chemical operations have been carried.

The material thus homogenized is evenly disterial in contact with the sides of the tank.

It is well recognized that a pump having a rotor and a stator. that is. a pump of either the centrifugal or rotary type, has a greatly increased subdividing and dispersing eiect upon the particles of material passing through it if its propelling action is resisted by a high pressure head. This is true because a high pressure head brings about a correspondingly greater degree of slip within the pump. As has' been above pointed out, the characteristic feature of What is termed slip in a pump is the backward flow of the material acted upon between the rotating and stationary parts of the pump. When the clearance between these parts is very small, the material which thus flows backward is very effectively subdivided and dispersed. l

In this invention this desirable back pressure 1s effected to' a high degree by means of the discharge head 46 by reason ofthe apertured plates mayonnaise or salad and the apertured bowl, which are a part of the head. It will be observed, also, that the high pressure thus created within the pipe sections 42 to 45 and within the discharge head contributes to the subdividing and dispersing action of the plates, and of the bowl, and also is a factor in the even distribution of the material over the surface 41 in the jets issuing from the oriiices 16 of the bowl. In this connection it may be observed that even though the plates 59, I60, and 6| are omitted from the head, a stream of material issuing from the pipe section 45 will impinge upon the solid portion 11 of the bowl and be mushroomed radially outward across the apertures 16 in a manner to cause a certain degree of subdivision and dispersion of the particles oi the material.

Within a material reservoir 18 which is mounted on the other end of the plate 22 from the mixing tank 23, are secured division walls 19 and 88 so arranged as to provide a large reservoir compartment 8l in which may be placed oil when the machine is being used for the production oi 40 at 88. The pipe conduits 84, 85, and 86 are provided respectively with flow controlling valves 89. 90, and 9|. The connection at 88 through which materials from the reservoir 18 may be introduced into the material as it circulates from the tank 23 through the pump and pipe sections 42 to 45 and back to the tank, is designedly placed close to the pump 31 so that any reaction betweenl the materials from the reservoir and the materials in the circulating system may not be initiated until the pump has thoroughly distributed the introduced materials, thereby bringing about a delayed and more even progression of the chemical reaction between the newly introduced materials and the materials of the circulating system.

As has been said above, the machine shown and described herein is but one machine by which this invention may be practiced. The process of this invention may be carried out in a wide variety of mixing, dispersing, and emulsifying machines, and in machines of this generalcharacter used for the production of emulsions of all kinds and in all industries. In order to explain the process of this invention and set forth some of its advantages, the steps of one particular process for making mayonnaise dressing in accordance with one particular formula will be herein described and set forth.

Into thetank 23 at its upper open end are poured veight'pounds of water, ve pounds of egg yolk, one and one-half pounds of sugar, salt, and spices in desired proportions. These materials pass through the pipe section 40 to the pump inlet port 4I. The pump 31 is then operated for' a period of approximately one minute, during which time the sugar and salt go into solution in the water, the spices into suspension and solution,

and the egg yolk subdivided into small particles and thoroughly distributed and dispersed throughout the mixture. The subdividing and dressing, a smaller reservoir. compartment 82 in which may be placed water, p

dispersing action is carried on both in the pump 31 and in the discharge head 46.

Before beginning the manufacture of the batch of dressing, 62 pounds of oil are placed in the reservoir compartment 8l, 12 to 16 pounds oi water are placed in the reservoir compartment B2, and 5 pounds of vinegar are placedin the reservoir compartment 83. At the termination of the one minute period above mentioned, with the pump still in operation, the valves 89, 90, and 9| are manipulated to gradually and progressively feed the oil, vinegar, and water from the reservoir compartments 8|, 82 and 83 respectively into the pipe section 40 where they are incorporated into the material in the circulating system. Although the pipe section 40 is of small diameter, it is apparent that these introduced materials will be incorporated into the materials of the circulating stream in a very uneven manner at this point. However, almost instantaneously after the introduction of the vinegar, oil, and water, the pump 31 will thoroughly mix and render homogeneous all of the component materials of the circulating stream. The vinegar particles enter into a chemical coagulating reaction with the albuminous and other constituents of the egg yolk material. It is to be observed that particles of the albuminous white of the egg are always present with and adhere to egg yolk, and these albuminous particles are coagulated by the vinegar. By introducing the vinegar into the circulating stream at a point Where this stream flows rapidly through a conduit of minimum cross-sectional area, and by thoroughly mixing the vinegar and egg particles immediately after introduction of the vinegar, the coagulatory action is delayed until the vinegar and egg particles have been evenly distributed relative to each other, thereby promoting a progressive coagulation evenly throughout the mass of material.

The second period of the process during which the oil, vinegar, and water are gradually and progressively introduced into the circulating stream is continued for approximately two minutes. During this period the egg yolk particles are subdivided to the desired size, becoming small nakelike and semi-globular bodies formed by the co agulating process, pluralities of which enclose globules of oil. The oil particles thus encased in egg material constitute the internal or dispersed phase of the resulting emulsion. They are evenly distributed throughout the external or continuous phase which is made up primarily of the water of the mixture together with the residual vinegar.

After the last of the vinegar, oil, and water have been introduced into the circulating stream at the end of the second stage of the process of making the mayonnaise dressingy which, as has been above said, is of approximately two minutes duration, the pump is preferably continued in operation for a final period of approximately thirty seconds, during which occur further subdivision of particles of the materials, further coagulation of the egg material, further incorporation of the oil particles of :the dispersed phase in the emulsifying agent of egg solid and further dispersion of the oil particles thus dispersed throughout the continuous water phase in an even homogeneous emulsiiied mixture.

Those familiar with the art will understand the problems of subdividing the various ingredients of the dressing to exactly the right degree. The oil material, for instance, if subdivided too iinely, will, unless the emulsifying agent is presments make necessary a rlnely adjusted balance between iluid pressure generated by the pump, velocity of flow, dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the several partsoi the path of the circulating system, rate of cycling, the subdividingl and homogenizing actions of the pump and discharge head both as to time rate and as to eiliciency. With a machine constructed as herein described, all of these factors are either properly provided for in the design of the machine or may be variedat the control of the operator.

Among the many other processes to which this invention is adapted may be described that of making salad dressing. Water, egg yolk, sugar, salt, and spices are initially placed in the tank as in the process above described, and the pump is operated for a period of approximately one minute. Vinegar and oil, and if desired additional water, are introduced from the reservoir compartments during a subsequent period oi operation oi! the pump for approximately another minute. Then a measured quantity of starch cooked in water to produce a gelatinized substance of the desired consistency is poured into the upper open end of the tank, an operation requiring but a few seconds. The operation of the pump is then continued vfor another thirty or sixty seconds, during which the subdivision, coagulation, and' dispersion processes are continued, and, in addition, the gelatinized starch is thoroughly and homogeneously incorporated throughout the mix ture.

The word homogenized has been used in this description and in the appended claims to refer to the action of uniformly dispersing and commingling the particles of the several 'component materials with respect to each other to produce a homogeneous mass. It does not refer to the degree of subdivision of the particles of a dispersed phase to a point preventing a homogeneous mixture from becoming heterogeneous by gravity or centrifugal action in thesame sense that the word homogenized" is used in connecmingled materials to a subdividing action, continuously subjecting said egg material -to a coagulatory action by said vinegar and continuously subjecting said oil in said commingled materials n to action by said egg material, in a multiplecycle circulatory operation.

2. The process of making edible dressing, including in chronological sequence the steps of: placing together some of the desired components. viz., at least the yolk portion of'eggs, sugar, salt, and spices in desired proportion, and a portion of the total moisture content of the completed dressing; subjecting said materials to a multiplecycle circulatory operation adapted to homogenize the materials and subdivide the egg material' for an initial period of time; dln'ing a subsequent period of time, introducing to and commingling with said materials from sources outside the cirtion with the preparation of milk in a form in which the cream will lnot rise to the top upon standing or may not be separated by centrifugal action.

As a matter of convenience, the word coagulation has been used herein to mean broadly the formation of that cellular structure of any material such as egg material which gives it greater solidity and permanence of form. l

lciaim as my invention:

l. The process of making edible dressing, in-

cluding in chronological sequence' the steps of: placing together some of the desired components, viz., at least the yolk portion of eggs, sugar, salt, and spices in desired proportion, and a portion of the total moisture content of the completed dressing; subjecting said materials to a multiplecycle circulatory operation adapted to homogenize the materials and subdivide the egg material for an initial period of time; during a subsequent period of time, introducing to and commingling with said materials from sources outside the circulatory system vinegar, the remainder of the moisture content o' the completed dressing, and oil, said vinegar, oil, and moisture content being introduced progressively during said subsequent period; and during said subsequent period continuously subjecting said commingled materials to a homogenizing action. continuously subjecting said egg material, oil. and water in said com- 'la subsequent period of time, introducing to and' culatory system vinegar and the remainder of the moisture content ci.' the completed dressing, and oil, said vinegar, oil, and moisture contentbeing introduced progressively during said sub-l sequent period; during said subsequent period continuously subjecting said commingled materials to a homogenizing action, and continuously subjecting said egg material, oil, and moisture content in said commingled materials to a subdividing action, and continuously subjecting said egg material to a coagulatory action by said vinegar and continuously subjecting said oil in said commingled materials to action by said egg material, in a multiple-cycle circulatory operation; and continuing said actions for a relatively brie! period after tiie termination oi said subsequent period.

3. The process of making edible dressing, including in chronological sequence the steps of:

placing together some of the desired components,

viz., at least the yolk portion of eggs, sugar, salt, and spices in desired proportion, and at least a portion-of the total moisture content of the completed dressing; subjecting said materials to 'a multiple-cycle circulatory operation adapted to homogenize the materials and subdivide the egg material, for an initialperiod of time; during a second period of time, introducing to and commingling with said materials, vinegar and oil from separate sources, said vinegar and oil being intro-l duced progressively during said .second period;l during this second period of time continuously subjecting said commingled materials to homo.- genizing and subdividing actions, and continuously subjecting said egg material to a coagulatory action by said vinegar, and continuously subjecting said oil in said commingled materials to action by said egg material in a multiple-cycle cir- Iculatory operation; during a third relatively short period of time introducing into the commingled materials a quantity of gelatinized cooked starch; and thereafter during a fourth period of time sub- -jecting all of said materials to a multiple-cycle circulatory operation adapted to continue the actions o1' said second period, while also homogeneously incorporating said starch in the dressing.

.4. The process ci making edible dressing, including in chronological sequence the steps `ot:- placing together some of the desired components, viz., at leastthe yolk portion of eggs, sugar, salt, and spices in desired proportion, and a portion of the total moisture content of the completed dressf ing; subjecting said materials to a continuous multiple-cycle circulatory operation adapted to homosenize the materials and subdivide the e8! material for an initial period of time; during a commingling with said materials vinegar, the remainder of the moisture content of the completed dressing, and from a separate source oil, said vinegar, oi1 and moisture content being each introduced progressively, and all introduced simultaneously, and at substantially the same point in said cycle during said subsequent period; and during said subsequent period continuously subjecting said commingled materials to a homogenizing action, continuously subjecting said egg material, oil, and Water in said commingled materials to a subdividing action, continuously subjecting said egg material to a coagulatory action by said vinegar, and continuously subjecting said oil in said commingled materials to action by said egg material, in a multiple-cycle circulatory operation, said actions taking place at least in part at a point immediately beyond said point of intro-- duction.

5. The process of making edible dressing, including in chronological sequence the steps of: placing together some of the components, viz., at

.least the yolk portion of eggs, sugar, salt, and

spices in desired proportion, and at least a portion of the total moisture content of the completed dressing; causing said materials to ilow in a liquid stream and subjecting said stream to a subdividing and homogenizing action; introducing into said stream vinegar, any remainder of the moisture content of the completed dressing,- and oil, said oil being introduced separately, and said vinegar, oil, and the remainder of the moisture content being each introduced progressively, and all introduced simultaneously, and at substantially the same definite point along said stream; and continuously subjecting the materials oi.' said stream to a homogenizing action, a subdividing action, a coagulatory action, and an emulsifying action, said actions occurring, at least in part, simultaneously at a point along said stream immediately beyond said point of introduction.

ERNEST E. LINDSEY. 

